Personalizing calendars by printing press



April 5, 1960 E. w. PETERSON PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING mass '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 FIG. I.

INVENTOR EDWARD WM PETERSON ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 s. w. PETERSON PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 FIG.2.

INVENTOR EDWARD WM PETERSON BY ZZ T L,

ATTORNEY E. W. PETERSON PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING PRESS April 5, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. '7, 1955 INVENTOR EDWARD WM PETERSON BY M 4 ATTORNEY 1 5, 1960 E. w. PETERSON 2,931,293

PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 7. 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR EDWARD WM PETE RSON BY $94M ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 E. w. PETERSON PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 INVENTOR EDWARD WM PETERSON BY 244mm ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 E. w. PETERSON 2,931,293

PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 7, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGQ.

INVENTOR EDWARD WM PETERSON BY f e 4:

ATTORNEY April 5, 1960 E. w. PETERSON PERSONALIZING CALENDARS BY PRINTING PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. PETERSON EDWARD VZ/M.

A 7'TORNEY PERSONALIZING CALRlllilglgARs BY PRINTING P 1 Edward W. Peterson, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,250 3 Claims. (Cl. 101-55) My invention relates to an automatic type changer in combination with a printing press.

' I provide apparatus associated with a printing press whereby the printing of an individual line or name on successive sheets in the press is possible and a predetermined number of impressions of the same individual line or name is automatically printed on such sheets. By means of said operates automatically to select the first type slug and move it into printing position. The apparatus is designed primarily for printing an individuals name on a calendar one, four, six or twelve times, depending on the number of sheets which comprise the calendar. The apparatus can be used in combination with a printing press for any form of printing which requires an individual line of 1 type or a limited number of lines of type to be printed'on a predetermined number of sheets before a change of type is made.

It is a further feature to provide apparatus cooperating with a printing press which automatically prints a designated type-slug a predetermined number of times, then automatically ejects said type-slug and coincidentally inserts a second type-slug for printing a designated number of sheets; such operation being repeated without interruption to the printing process until tained in the type chase have been used.

It is a further feature to provide apparatus in combination with the printing press which may be set by the operator of the press to print the desired indicia a pre determined number of times. The operation of the ap-' paratus in combination with the printing press is automatic in printing the desired number of impressions of the same indicia and in changing the indicia so that a different printing may be impressed on subsequent heets in the printing press. The apparatus also automatically engages the type-slugs to bring the same into printing position and then automatically discards the type-slugs from the printing press. A further object resides in providing a type holding chase which is removably supported in the printingpress and which is adapted to hold the respective typeslugs so that they may be selected and moved into print ing position in the chase and may be removed after a particular type-slug has served its purpose of printing and a new type-slug is brought into printing position.

An object of the invention resides in providing means whereby the pressman for the press may set a selector switch to cause the printing press to operate to print a predetermined number of impressions before the printing slug is' discarded. The apparatus includes timer and selectorcmeans which control the printing operation of each slug brought intoprinting position. The selector all type-slugs connited States Patent Patented Apr. 5, 1960 means also causes the apparatus to operate pawl means;-

7 which acts as the ejector means, controlled by a solenoid to eject a type-slug from the printing press after it has served its purpose. Suitable micro switch means prevents the ejector solenoid from operating until the timer cams have advanced to their proper position. This micro switch means is set to close the circuit when the solenoid coil is energized and the plunger is at the end of its, stroke. The cam means on the impression cylinder shafthas a long enough dwell to hold the circuit closed until the ejector mechanism operates.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification and reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is an end elevation of the printing press and automatic type changer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the printing press and type changer, looking at the bed end of the press from the left side, with the press bed in a retracted position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view looking at the bed end of the press from the right side.

Figure 4 shows a circuit diagram for this equipment.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the control box showing a switch, reset button, selector switch, and pilot light.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cam and cam switch which is located on the impression cylinder.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the ejector mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a portion of the ejector mechanism.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the ejector slide andframe showing the manner in which the retaining springs are mounted.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the rod latch which is located on the ejector slide.

I Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of the pawl end of the ejector slide.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the chase, partially broken away and partially in phantom;

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the ejector slide and frame of Figure 9, partially broken away, showing the spring, chain, and sprocket means for holding the ejector slide under tension.

Referring now to Figure 1 the frame or chase A is shaped similar to a figure 6 having an end wall 1 and a parallel extended end wall 2 which are connected by the perpendicularly disposed bottom wall 3 and intermediate Wall 4 and having the top wall 5 extending perpendicular to the extending end wall 2. This frame is removably attached to the press bed C through bolt means 6. The tension ratchet 7 is attached to the bottom wall 3, by means of the studs 8. Tangentially engageable with the tension ratchet 7 is the actuator pawl 9. and the brake pawl 10, both resistently biased into operative position w by springs 9a and 10a respectively as shown in Figure 12.

Wound partially upon tension ratchet 7 is the cable means;- 11; said cable means comprising two cables, one of which" is connected by pulleys 11a and 11b through raceways 4a and 4b, in the intermediate wall 4, to one end 12a of type pusher 12. The other cable is connected by pulleys 11c and 11d through raceways 5a and 5b, in the top wall 5, to the other end 12b of the type pusher 12 which is slidably contained between the intermediate wall 4 and the top wall 5. The type chase 13 between the intermediate wall 4 and the top wall 5 contains the type bars 14 when the press is in operation. Mounted in the outer edge of the end Wall 1 are the type stops 15 which cooperate with rod latches 19 in guide bar B to position a selected type bar 14a for the printing sequence. j The guide bar B isremovably attached to the-press Qh he, bo t hie h lfit d s aht abo t he idth at one as i tant-- in-which the ejector slide-17 is held in place. For purposes of illustration these figures have been somewhat: distorted, their true size and shape relationships bein disclosed more accurately in Figures 13. As shown in Eigure 12, the ejector slide 17 is slidable within guide bar Eth c-grooves 17a of the ejector side 17 cooperating with the inwardly extending tongue or flange 17b of guide bar B. The ejector slide 17 is held in said guidebar under; tension by spring 18, chain 181; and sprockets 18b shown in Figure 13. When the ejector pawl 31 re. e s s h je slide ith p hs; .8 by-u1 a s of the chain 18a and sprockets 181 pulls: the ejector slide lfl' back within guide bar B to the position shown in Figures 9 and 13 so that the ejector slide may reciprocate with V the press bed C until succeeding type bars are to be re-.-. ceived into printing position. The ejector slide 17 contains the rod latches 19 on the outer edge facing the end wall 1' and said rod latches 19 engage the type bars to position said type bars for printing or; to ejectthe type bars when the printing operation has been completed.

' The tension ratchet 7 is rotated by the actuator pawl 9 by means of the tension plunger 20. The tension plunger 20 is slidably contained in hole 3a in the bottom wall 3.

Contained about the tension plunger 2Q is the. helical spring 20A. The helical spring 20A is of greater diameter thanhole 3a in the bottom wall 3 and is contained between the bottom wall 3and the endtot the tension the'plunger bracket 21 nearest the press bedC is formed with a barrel-like housing 21A through whiclris fittedthe. actuating rod 213. Attached to the end or the actuating rod 21B which extends throughthe barrel-like housingaway from the press bed are the suitable stop means 210. These stop means prevent the actuating rod from advance ingv toward the press bed more than a predetermined distance through the barrel-like housing 21A Encircling the actuator rod 21B is the helical spring 211) between the end of the barrel housing nearest the press bed, and,

7 for use with a printing press having a reciprocating bQdk.

The press itself forms no part of the invention. In Figure 1, bed (3 of the printing press is reciprocated backand forth underneath the impression cylinder D as shown.

by arrow E. The stock to be printed is carried on;

ranged. the backward tension on the qableineans. llwill prevent the tension ratchet 7., from rotating when engaged by the actuator pawl 9. Under these conditions the resistance created by the tension in the cable means 11 and the pressure from the helical spring 20A prevent the tension plunger 20 from sliding inwardly through hole 3a in the base 3 of the chase A. After the ejector mechanism operat s, the first type slug will be moved into printing position thereby leaving a blank space between the second type slugand the guide bar B in the type chase 13..

Under this condition the backward tension on the cable means 11 is relaxed, and therefore the only resistance to the inward, movement of the tension plunger 20 is that provided by the helical spring 20A. Therefore, when the actuator rod 21B coacts axially with the tension plunger 20 the spring pressure of the helical spring 2 10 overcomes the resistance ofiered by the helical spring 20A and the tension plunger 2Q is forced inwardly through-the hole in the bottom wall 3. The actuator pawl 9 is; thereby engaged against the tension ratchet 7 and rotates it in a the clockwise rotation of the tension ratchet 7. This places the. cable means 11 under tension and said cable means being connected by pulleys 11a and 11b to the. type pusher 12 causes the type pusher 12 to move toward the guide bar; B. This forces all of the type slugs 14 ahead th yr pu h r 1 owa d the Open n f, the

. type chase 13 until the leading type slug comes into contact plunger 20 by suitable retarding means 2013, The tension plunger 20 is actuated by the forwardmost portion or the; plunger bracket 21 as hereinafter set forth. The end of with the guide bar B. After the type slug is firmly adjacent the guide bar Bthe tensiongon the cable means 11; again couples with the action of the spring 20A to providev greater resistance to the inward movement" of; the:

tension plunger- 20. Insuch condition the'resistance is r a tha the e hceot the helical sp ng 16. and;

the c u or o 1 3 s gain sed to y ld rearwardly u t o r; typ s u w is n rt d nto p g posit on;

The plunger bracket 21 is attached to the guard 23, to;

e eft th r f, y an f; h gu d pl te: 23A.v

The tongued plate 23A is slideably attached to the press by inserting said tongued plate 23A into the groove of the grooved assembly bracket 22'. Suitable set-screw means, not shown in the drawings, are utilized to prevent the lateral movement of the plunger} bracket 21, the ejector guard 23 and the tongued plate23A when the press is in operation. The tongued plate 23A is secured to the assembly bracket 22 in such a manner that the actuator rod21B is in direct alignment with the tension plunger 20.

As shown in Figure 3 attached to the opposite side of the ejector mechanism guard is the ejector solenoid 25 and portions, of the ejector mechanism. The ejector" mechanism consists of a solenoid 2 5 which is mechanically.- connected: to the'linkages 26, 27 and 28, normally. held in a non-operating position by a spring 29 and connected pression cylinder D throughout a printing cycle. During ing press bed C under the impression cylinder which rolls;

the stock in contact therewith. Roller means located.

behind impression cylinder D provide ink for typedbari 14g. Each sheet is discharged from the cylinder, after:

being printed by means not germane to thepresent'inven: tion, After a predetermined number of sheetshave been;

. such a printing cycle the type barselected for the particr; ular sequence, designated by reference character 14a, and; positioned between stops 15 and 19, moves with the-slid printed with a particular type bar the type bar is ejectedl V in the manner set forthhereinbelow.

' In the operation of the press when the press bed I'QCiP'.

rocates in a forwardly and backwardly direction, the ten! sion plunger 20 and the plunger bracketZl are so aligned s o ca t ax n th type-bars i e typ chase 13 arejadvanced so that the leading type-bar is;

.p iestant e sni e ba and the ype push r 12,. s adby; means of a pin 30 to the actuator pawl 31 contained within the guard 23. The operation of the ejector-mechanism is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. When the ejector solenoid 25 is energized the ejector pawl 31 engageswith the ejector slide '17. of the guide bar B while the press bed retracts to its printing position. When the ejection function'is performed, the type b'ar 14a, which has printedthe desired number of impressions, is ejected: from between the chase A and the guide bar B and drops into. the chute 32.which conducts the type bar tothereceptacle 33. .While. this operation is being performed,

the. rod latch 19 at the extreme inner endof the ejector slide. engages the next type bar and positions it for the next printing. The ejection of type'bar 14a from its positionv intermediate the length of guide bar B to the" andhold. both the type bar'14a to be ejected and the type: bar to. be inserted while press bed C is movedrear ward1y-towards impression cylinder D;

Reference to Figure 4.showing.the circuit diagram will reveal the manner by which the ejector mechanism is actuated. The cam switch 34 is located on the press adjacent the impression cylinder. Attached to and turning with the shaft 35 of the impression cylinder is the cam wheel 35A which actuates the cam switch 34 when the cammed surface 35B passes over and depresses the switch arm 34A. This closes a circuit which energizes the solenoid 44. When the solenoid 44 is energized a magnetic field is established which draws the solenoid rod 46. in a downward direction thereby causing the ratchet arm 47 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. As the ratchet arm 47 rotates the pawl 48 engages one of the teeth on the twelve-toothed gear 36 and advances the toothed gear the distance of one tooth. The restraining leaf spring 49 prevents the toothed gear from rotating in a clockwise direction. On the same shaft with the twelve-toothed gear 36, and turning with it, are three notched cams 37, 38, 39 which operate three micro switches 40, 41 and 42 by means of the pivoted contact arms 50, 51 and 52. The micro switches 40, 41 and 42 are connected to the selector switch 43 which can be set for 1, 4, 6 or 12 impressions. With the press in operation the selected number of impressions are made, and the ejector mechanism operates to eject the used type slug and to automatically insert a new type slug between the frame and the guide bar. The ejector mechanism is actuated when the contact arm actuates the micro switch to close a circuit and energize the ejector solenoid 25. When the ejector solenoid is energized a magnetic field is created and the linkages 26, 27 and 28-are actuated in such a manner as to depress the pin 30, which in turn raises the actuator pawl 31 and causes it to engage the notched end of the ejector slide 17. As the press bed retracts the ejector slide 17 remains in engagement with the actuator pawl 31 thereby ejecting the used type slug and inserting a second type slug into printing position. When this operation is completed the toothed gear will have advanced one tooth, turning with it the notched cams and thereby de-energizing the circuit to the ejector solenoid.

To more clearly explain the operation of the ejector slide, assume that the selector switch has been set for four impressions. Each time the impression cylinder rotates, it will operate the cam switch 34 which in turn will energize the solenoid 44 to advance the twelvetoothed gear 36 one tooth. 0n the notched cam 37 for four impressions, there are three notches; thus, the micro switch 40 will be actuated three times during a full revolution of the twelve toothed gear 36. It is readily apparent that the impression cylinder 35 will make four impressions between each of the actuations of the micro switch 40. On operation of the micro switch the circuit to the ejector solenoid 25 is closed and said ejector solenoid operates to actuate the ejector mechanism. To prevent faulty operation of the ejector solenoid, a micro switch 45 located in the circuit for said ejector solenoid closes when the solenoid 44 is energized and the plunger is at the end of its stroke. The cam switch 34 on the impression cylinder carries a sufliciently long dwell, or is maintained in a closed position for a sufiicient length of time to permit the complete ejection operation before the cam switch is released to its ofi position.

A number of type slugs, the exact quantity depending upon the size of the type chase and the press bed, are manually inserted into the type chase and are forced by the type pusher until the type slug first in line comes into contact with the frame guide bar. The pressman tending the press sets the switch 53 to the off position and then sets the selector switch for the number of impressions desired. The momentary contact reset button 56 is then pushed until the pilot light 54 goes out. The switch 53 is then set in the on position and the press is started. The first slug is automatically positioned to print the first number of impressions, the type plunger actuates the pawl to increase whichin turn forces the type pusher against the remaining type slugs in the type chase and thereby positions the second type slug for immediate use. sired number of impressions have been made the ejector. solenoid is energized and the ejector pawl then engages the ejector slide thereby forcing the used I the chute 32 and simultaneously pulling the second type slug into position for the next series of impressions. This procedure is repeated until all type slugs contained in.

the type chase have been used for the desired number of times. The printing of the recipients name upon acalendar adds a personal touch to advertising media, but heretofore has been a costly operation because it was necessary to stop the press and manually insert each succeeding type slug rather than having a continuous automatic operation as provided by my invention. l

Heretofore it was impossible to utilize a loose or slidable type slug in a continuous automatic printing operation and as a result ersonalizing of printed matter. was time-consuming and costly.

Except for the insertion of the type slugs at the beginning of each printing operation the printing operation is completely automatic. The calendars or other media upon which printing is desired are automatically fed to the impression cylinder as it is used in the flat bed press.

While only one embodiment has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications may be made without departure from the invention. It is therefore, to be intended to limit the invention.

understood that it is not to the embodiment shown but only by the scopeof the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a printing press having a rotatable impression member and a bed positioned for linear reciprocation below said member, an automatic type changer comprising a chase positioned on the top surface of the press bed, tension and cable means in said chase responsive to the reciprocatory movement of the bed for moving a plurality of type slugs transversely along the forward portion of said chase to an exit at one side thereof, a guide bar positioned on the bed surface in spaced relation along one side of said chase forming a channel therebetween, the forward portion of said channel being adjacent said exit, an ejector .bar positioned for slidable engagement into and substantially out of said guide bar, one end of said ejector bar biased to retracted position within said guide bar by spring tension means, the opposite end of said ejector bar extending out from the rearward end of said guide bar, an operating member affixed to the press in stationary position including an ejector pawl having a plurality of actuating linkages, said ejector pawl ccacting with the extending end of said ejector bar for holding it in stationary position in relation to the reciprocatory movement of the bed thereby drawing said ejector partially out of said guide bar and moving one of said slugs along said channel from said exit to printing position and ejecting another slug from printing position from said press, and electro-mechanical means for actuating said linkages responsive to a predetermined number of rotations of the impression member of the press.

2. In a printing press having a rotatable impression member and a planar bed positioned for linear reciprocation below said member, an automatic type changer comprising a chase positioned on the top surface of the press bed, said chase having means responsive to the reciprocal movement of the bed for moving a plurality of type slugs transversely along the forward portion of said chase to a guide bar at one side thereof, a guide bar positioned on said bed in spaced relation along one side of said chase forming a channel therebetween, the forward portion of said channel being adjacent said guide bar, an ejector bar positioned for slidable engagement the tension on the ratchet.

When the detype slug into;

assigns 7 intoand substantially out of said guide bar 'andjhavingi lug means for moving the type slugs along said guide bar through said channe ,electromechanical means for; actuating saidejector bar comprising in sub-combination, an

electric circuit'having a first solenoid responsive to the rotation of said impression member, for actuating a rotatable ratchet, said ratchet being rotatable on a shaft with;

an operating member afiixed to said press in stationary 1 position in axial alignment with said ejector bar having ancjector pawl actuated by said second solenoid for acting with 'the' free end of said ejector bar to draw it substantially out of said guide bar and simultaneously move said type slugs'singly along said guide bar through said channel to printing position and to eject the used type slug from said press.

3, An automatic type-changer for use on a printing press having a rotatable impression cylinder with a planar bed reciprocable th ereunder, comprising a first operating s here m nd en on ted el t n m.

1 11136 12. slidably engaged within said guiding means for reciprocation therein,

member having a chase positioned on the surface of the p e d; cable nd s r e s cned r tch t meansc said chase responsive to the reciprocation of the bed for moving a plurality of type slugs transversely across the forward portion of said chase to an exitat one side,

thereof; guiding means positionedons'aid bed along one side of said chase in spaced relation the eto forming a channel therebetween, the forward portion of said channel being adjacent said exit for receiving the type slugs said ejecting member havingnreans to move said type slugs one direction along saidchanneh'ja second op erating rnernber afiizted to said pressin stationary position for cooperation with said first operating inember and hav? ing a pawl for contacting said ejecting member and holding it in stationary positioniagainst the reciprocatory'motion of the press bed whereby said ejecting member slidably engages said guiding means for simultaneously moving said type slugs singly along said channel to printing position and for ejection from said press, and electromechanical timing means responsive to the number of rotations of the impression cylinder for moving said pawl into contact with said ejector.

Reierences'Citedin the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 92,444 Henderson July 13, 1869 270,714 White Ian. 16, 1883 1,085,394 Whitman -Jan. 27, 1914 1,162,621 Lee Nov. 30, 1915 1,280,191 Y Duncan 0cm, 1918 1,282,228 Havens Oct. 28, 1918 1,625,569 Shickman Apr. 19, 1 927 1,689,562 Spelling Oct. 30, 1 928 1,850,922 Chisholm Mar. 22, 1932 2,359,850 Hueber Oct. 10, 19 44 ,5 4, n nk AP 2 2 2,616,363 Ostwaldt Nov. '4, 1952 2,765,734 Wagner Oct. 9, 1956 h e -f-- May 21 

